Two Events Empower Northern Ghana Youth in Agribusiness for Sustainable Growth
Participants pose for a group photo at the Youth Policy Dialogue in Tamale.
With the life expectancy of a farmer in Ghana ranging between 55 and 60 years old and the average age of a farmer there being 55 years old, Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) acknowledges, in its Youth in Agriculture Program, that addressing the country’s aging farmer population is key to sustaining its agriculture sector. By 2050, Ghana’s population is expected to exceed 50 million; hence, having more youth take up agriculture and agribusiness is critical to its food security.
Yet the majority of the population between 15 and 24 shows little to no interest in agriculture, even if the sector offers opportunities to solve increasing youth unemployment, underemployment, and poverty. For some Ghanaian youth, agriculture as an occupation is considered outmoded, unprofitable, and less prestigious. Careers that offer higher social status and perceived high financial rewards are more attractive to them. For others, limited access to finance, land, markets, and infrastructure strongly discourages them from venturing into agriculture.
In commemoration of International Youth Day, the Feed the Future (FtF) Ghana Policy LINK Activity collaborated with two other FtF Implementing Partners (IPs)—the Ghana Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture (MFA) and the Ghana Market System and Resilience (MSR) activities—and with the University for Development Studies (UDS) to organize two youth-focused events to draw attention to the significance of having youth engaged in the country’s agriculture and agribusiness sector and to celebrate the outstanding contributions of their peers involved in agriculture ventures.
The first event, a Policy LINK-led Agriculture Youth Policy Dialogue, took place on August 10, 2023 in Tamale under the theme “Promoting Agribusiness: Empowering Youth to Embrace Agriculture as a Viable Business Opportunity.” Over 150 youth, including students from five local senior high schools, two universities, youth groups, and youth-centered civil society organizations (CSOs) participated. Researchers from academic institutions and policymakers were also in attendance. The Youth Policy Dialogue provided a platform for addressing pertinent concerns related to youth engagement in agriculture. It also raised awareness of livelihood opportunities for them in the sector and afforded the young participants the opportunity to share their insights and recommendations regarding agricultural policies.
A Historic Opportunity
“I wish I had the opportunity you have gotten,” said Hon. Mohammed Yakubu Ahmed, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly, who gave the keynote address at the event. He added that, “[i]f we had this opportunity years back, we would have gone far.” The MCE pledged the Assembly’s commitment to collaborate with stakeholders toward establishing agribusiness incubation centers. These will serve as hubs of innovation, learning, training, and mentorship for young agripreneurs. He also encouraged the youth to look at the agriculture value chain and position themselves within it.
Yunus Abdulai, Country Lead for Policy LINK in Ghana, in his welcoming remarks, encouraged youth to get interested in agriculture and in its policy processes. “Ghanaian youth, just like your peers in other countries, have the potential to transform the agricultural sector into a dynamic and profitable one, by applying your creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills. The youth have a right to be involved in the policy processes that affect your livelihoods and aspirations,” he said.
Key moments of the event included the UDS Centre for Agricultural Productivity and Policy Studies (CAPPS) presentation, “Agriculture Policy Interventions in 2023 National Budget for Youth: Empowering the Youth to Venture into Agribusiness.” This session drew participants’ attention to the government’s agriculture policy interventions contained in the 2023 National Budget and the Mid-Year Budget Review. The presentation exposed the youth in attendance to the provisions and encouraged them to take advantage of these to enhance their chances of becoming successful agripreneurs. A panel discussion, which followed the presentation, had discussants share thoughts on “Youth-Driven Solutions for Agricultural Development and Job Creation.” The panelists agreed that the government had to design tailor-made agribusiness interventions for youth in rural and urban areas.
Adam Mariama, a student at Business Senior High School contributing to plenary discussions
According to Adam Mariama, a female student at Business Senior High School who participated in the event, the Youth Policy Dialogue exposed her to opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness for youth. “We have to take advantage of these opportunities so we can support in developing the nation… we are the future,” she said. Mariama’s interest in agriculture grew with encouragement from her teachers. “When I was in JSS [Junior High School], my aim was not to pursue agriculture. But my teachers advised me and shared their experiences and because of that I am now pursuing general agriculture at my school,” she revealed.
To cap the International Youth Day commemorations on August 12, 2023, Policy LINK and its collaborators co-created an agribusiness seminar, “Empowering Young Agripreneurs: Drivers for Innovation and Sustainable Economic Growth in Northern Ghana,” in Bolgatanga—the capital city of Ghana’s Upper East Region (UER). Just as in Tamale, the event provided space for more than 225 youths from the Bolgatanga Technical University and nearby senior high schools, out-grower business networks, the informal sector, representatives of youth-focused CSOs in the Upper East and North-East Regions, non-governmental organizations, and representatives of government institutions to discuss youth-related agriculture themes.
The seminar’s key moments included the UER Department of Agriculture’s talk, which highlighted the government’s agricultural sector programs that promote agribusiness and skills development for youth in Northern Ghana, as well as a panel discussion on how to position youth-led agribusinesses for growth and increase access to finance.
To collate inputs from the participants of the agribusiness seminar, the Speaker of the Northern Region Youth Parliament presented a communiqué developed on behalf of youth in Northern Ghana at the Youth Policy Dialogue held on August 10 in Tamale. The communiqué discusses some opportunities and challenges for youth in agriculture and presents recommendations along six thematic areas.
Policy LINK, MSR, and CAPPS of UDS are facilitating engagements between the leadership of the Northern Youth Parliament and the Northern Regional Minister, Northern Regional Youth Authority, Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), and other relevant stakeholders at which the youth leaders will present the communiqué to the parties.
Resources
USAID Ghana, Policy LINK, and Finance Ministry Launch Junior Fellows Program